Conveyor fitting



June 10, 1969 w. DU BROFF' 3, I

CONVEYOR FITTING Filed Nov. 13, 1967 B WARREN DUBROFF ATT'YS United States Patent 3,448,849 CONVEYOR FITTING Warren Du Brolf, 350 Carol Court, Highland Park, Ill. 60035 Filed Nov. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 682,334 Int. Cl. B65g 19/02, 19/26 US. Cl. 198-170 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Summary of Invention For years, dog-type fittings have been used on conveyor chains in order to advance cartons along generally 'horizontal paths. By generally horizontal paths I refer to conveyor runs which are either exactly horizontal or have a slight incline or decline. In many warehousing and production operations, it is necessary to convey paperboard cartons considerable distances. With the dogs of the prior art, there was substantial wastage and loss of cartons when the cartons became blocked and the dogs had to pass under the carton.

By the instant invention, I provide a novel fitting which performs the function of advancing cartons uniformly and sequentially along a conveyor path yet, should the carton passage be blocked, disposes the fitting so as to readily pass under the carton without any damage, i.e., ripping of the bottom wall in so doing.

The invention is explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a chain conveyor utilizing the principle of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the chain equipped with the inventive fitting;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the fitting seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the fitting in a pushing position; and

FIG. 5 is a view of the fitting similar to FIG. 4 but in a position wherein a blocked carton has the fitting passing thereunder.

In the illustration given and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the numerals and 11 generally designate schematically two flights of conveyor chains which are adapted to provide means for supporting the lateral sides of a carton against lateral tipping. The numeral 12 designates generally a centrally disposed fiigiht of a conveyor chain adapted to push a series of cartons, one of which is illustrated at 13 by means of a pusher generally designated 14.

The pusher 14 is seen in enlarged scale in FIGS. 2 and 3 and includes a pair of side members 15 joined together by means of a cross shaft 16. The shaft or axle means 16 is journaled within a link 17, the link 17 having a fiat top surface 18. Each member 15 at the forward end thereof is equipped with a roller 19 suitably rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft 20. At the rear end of each member, a second somewhat larger roller 21 is provided rotatably supported on a transverse shaft 22.

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Operation Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation of the invention can be appreciated. In FIG. 4, a carton 13 has been engaged by the fitting 14 and the weight of the carton depresses the forward roller 19 so that the uppermost portion of the roller 19 is level with the top surface 18 of the link 17. This necessarily results in the elevation of the rear roller 21, thereby forming a pushing means for the carton 13. It will be noted that in the configuration illustrated that the axis of rotation generally designated 23 of the rear roller 21 is above the top surface 18 of the roller 17.

When, however, the carton 13 engages an obstacle or other obstruction (not shown), the weight of the carton 13 in combination with the lever arm of the smaller roller, i.e., the distance connecting the centers of the shafts 16 and 20, is unable to compensate for the superior moment developed by the force opposing movement of the carton 13 in combination with the rear lever arm, i.e., the distance between the point of contact of the carton 13 with the roller 21 and the axis of the shaft 16 (the pivot center of the fitting 14). In such a case, the roller 20 is elevated while the roller 21 is depressed, permitting the carton 13 to pass thereover. Because of the roller surfaces involved, there is no possibility of scoring or ripping the underside of the carton 13.

In the illustration given, the side members 15 are pivotally mounted on the link 17 intermediate with the ends thereof as at 16 and the extension of the lines joining the axis 24 of the forward roller with the pivot center 16 at a slight acute angle (i.e., of the order of 20), with the line connecting the pivot center 16 with the axis 23 of the rear roller 21. As an example of the practice of the invention, I utilize 1" diameter rollers 21 and diameter rollers 19, each of the rollers being A" thick. The depression of the rear roller is limited by means of a stop post 25 which is in diameter with the axis of the post being located below the top surface 18 and A rearwardly of the pivot center 16. Thus, the forward rollers 19 are normally disposed in carton engaging position and are readily depressed when such engagement occurs. The dimensions between the respective axis 23, 24 and the pivot center 16 is With such an arrangement, cartons of ordinary commercial size, i.e., up to about 36 square in rear elevation, are easily conveyed yet an overload release is advantageously provided.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention is set down for the purpose of illustration, many variations of the details hereingiven may be made by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In conveyor apparatus for advancing generally rectangular cartons along a generally horizontal path, a frame, means on said frame defining the sides of said path and for supporting a carton against lateral tipping, a conveyor chain between said side means for advancing said cartons sequentially, said chain including a plurality of pusher fittings with each fitting including a member relatively elongated in the direction of chain movement and being pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said chain, said member adjacent each end being equipped with a generally cylindrical roller rotatably mounted thereon for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of chain movement, and means on said chain limiting the pivotal movement of said member to position the forward one of said rollers in carton engaging position whereby engagement of said forward roller with a carton results in depression of said forward roller and elevation of the rearward roller to engage and push said carton having moved past said rearward roller.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said rearward 3 roller is of larger diameter than said forward roller and is so positioned on said member relative to the top of said chain that when said forward roller is depressed by a carton, the axis of said rear roller is above the chain top.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which a pair of roller equipped members are provided on each side of said chain, said members being interconnected by axle means journaled in said chain.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which the line connecting the axis of said rearward roller with the pivot center of References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1932 Aimes 198-170 7/1965 Achammer 198-221 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner. 

